Hardrocker Battalion
Hosted at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology · Rapid City, SD
Hardrocker is the Army ROTC battalion at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in South Dakota.
Quick facts
About this program
Run by cadre at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Hardrocker Battalion is the Army ROTC battalion for Rapid City and surrounding South Dakota. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Hardrocker, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Black Hills State University, National American University, and Western Dakota Technical College into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for ROTC class and lab.
The battalion runs all standard Army ROTC scholarship channels: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard). Major-wise, cadets here cluster around engineering and physical sciences and international affairs and language study, with cadre encouraging technical degrees where the cadet's career interests fit.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hills State University , SD | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
| National American University , SD | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
| Western Dakota Technical College , SD | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
Scholarships available
See the Army scholarship overview for the full slate of scholarships activatable at Hardrocker Battalion.
Academic programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Cadets at Hardrocker Battalion pursue degrees across South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's profile →
Training & summer
Army cadets attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox between their MS-III and MS-IV years for Advanced Camp, plus optional CULP overseas, Airborne, and Air Assault schools.
Contact & location
Address: Rapid City, SD
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Hardrocker Battalion located?
- Hardrocker Battalion is hosted at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD.
- Can students at other schools join Hardrocker Battalion?
- Yes — Hardrocker Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Black Hills State University, National American University, Western Dakota Technical College. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Hardrocker Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Hardrocker Battalion?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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